Chelsea 2 United 3

United closed the gap to a single point at the top of the table with a win at Stamford Bridge this afternoon.

However the game wasn`t without controversy with our hosts being reduced to nine men in the second half.

For the fixture, Sir Alex decided to revert to playing with two wide-men with Young and Valencia in the starting line-up.

Attacking the Shed End, United got off to a great start, taking the lead after just 3 minutes when Rafael and Young combined to make use of the space down the right flank. When Young played the ball in Van Persie`s shot smacked against the post before hitting David Luiz and beating Cech.

With twelve minutes gone the lead was doubled. This time it was Valencia who utilised the space down that same open flank before providing the perfect cross for Van Persie to hit his shot home from seven yards out.

All credit to Chelsea though who refused to drop their heads and our hosts struck back. De Gea pulled off a save with his leg after a David Luiz shot dipped and swerved, from a free kick. The Spaniard then performed wonders to claw away a header from Torres that had goal written all over it. But the defence was breached just before half time when Rooney fouled Ramires and from the resulting free kick, Juan Mata showed his precise finishing by giving De Gea no chance from twenty yards out.

But De Gea did keep us ahead with a great stop from Mata as Chelsea carved our defence open one last time before the break.

Our hosts started the second half brightly and were level nine minutes into the half. Oscar delivered the ball deep to Mata who, with decent control, pulled it down and then played it back across the six yard box, it reached Hazard and his cross was headed home by Ramires.

At 2-2 you favoured Chelsea to nick this one but our hosts self-imploded. First, as Young burst through, in the 63rd minute, Ivanovic clipped his heels and was shown a red card and then six minutes later Torres followed him down the tunnel after receiving a second yellow card, the second one for diving after a tackle from Evans, for those who thought it unfair, just remember this was the same Torres who had felled Cleverley with a chest high challenge late in the first half.

With a two man advantage, it was only a matter of time for United and when Sir Alex threw on Hernandez you just had an inkling he`d get the winner and that was just the case when he turned in a hard hit cross from Giggs.

Chelsea didn`t give up though and pushed hard for an equaliser but United held firm and could have extended their lead late on. Full credit to both sides though with both proving they`ll be in the title race come May.

Comments

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I'm not surprised Van Persie wanted to join United so badly. Trophies there are guaranteed, not because you are a brilliant bunch, but because referees seem to have an agenda against every team that plays against you. "just remember this was the same Torres who had felled Cleverley with a chest high challenge late in the first half" So what? Tell me exactly what the point is. As Gary Neville said, two bad decisions don't make one good in the end. It will still be remembered as two bad breaks rather than one which corrected another. Disgraceful piece of refereeing, which annihiliated a good game of footy. And, honestly, I admire the guy for his achievements and his passion for the game, but at 70-something years of age, more than 25 years of experience, can't Sir Alex have some farking dignity and stop acting like a chubby cake boy? The spat he had with Di Matteo seemed to have no justification at all - there was no red card, no foul, nothing. Just Sturridge who was going to come on. The only thing I can see is that he obviously had a problem with Sturridge or something.

I'm not surprised Van Persie wanted to join United so badly. Trophies there are guaranteed, not because you are a brilliant bunch, but because referees seem to have an agenda against every team that plays against you. "just remember this was the same Torres who had felled Cleverley with a chest high challenge late in the first half" So what? Tell me exactly what the point is. As Gary Neville said, two bad decisions don't make one good in the end. It will still be remembered as two bad breaks rather than one which corrected another. Disgraceful piece of refereeing, which annihiliated a good game of footy. And, honestly, I admire the guy for his achievements and his passion for the game, but at 70-something years of age, more than 25 years of experience, can't Sir Alex have some farking dignity and stop acting like a chubby cake boy? The spat he had with Di Matteo seemed to have no justification at all - there was no red card, no foul, nothing. Just Sturridge who was going to come on. The only thing I can see is that he obviously had a problem with Sturridge or something.

Hmm, when Chelsea win by decisions in their favour what is it you see as terse all over vitalchelsea, carefree is it? Laughable that you come out bitching to no end when a decisions goes against you and cry for justice but when things go in your favour you don't join the protests of the other team. Ultimately, Chelsea were poor to begin with and were punished for it, they got a goal but who's to say that would've been the case had Torres correctly been sent off in the first place. No doubt had Chelsea won 3-2 and Torres weren't sent off for his red card worthy challenge no-one would've cared but because its us its all arms on deck the ABU brigade begin. Never happy to win like that but find it infuriating people get on a high horse about decisions that happen in every game, every season in every division in every league all over the world but conveniently stay quiet when it's in their favour.

Hmm, when Chelsea win by decisions in their favour what is it you see as terse all over vitalchelsea, carefree is it? Laughable that you come out bitching to no end when a decisions goes against you and cry for justice but when things go in your favour you don't join the protests of the other team. Ultimately, Chelsea were poor to begin with and were punished for it, they got a goal but who's to say that would've been the case had Torres correctly been sent off in the first place. No doubt had Chelsea won 3-2 and Torres weren't sent off for his red card worthy challenge no-one would've cared but because its us its all arms on deck the ABU brigade begin. Never happy to win like that but find it infuriating people get on a high horse about decisions that happen in every game, every season in every division in every league all over the world but conveniently stay quiet when it's in their favour.

Also, Fergie isn't the best loser, nor exactly the best winner but to start pointing out his flaws when Di Matteo was far from a model professional during the game is ridiculous. Fergie gave the ball for Valencia to throw in and Di Matteo tried grabbing the ball from him to prevent the counter-attack from happening, so much so that he actually ran out of the technical area.

Also, Fergie isn't the best loser, nor exactly the best winner but to start pointing out his flaws when Di Matteo was far from a model professional during the game is ridiculous. Fergie gave the ball for Valencia to throw in and Di Matteo tried grabbing the ball from him to prevent the counter-attack from happening, so much so that he actually ran out of the technical area.